Mechanism for a divan bed

ABSTRACT

Innovative mechanism for a divan bed enabling the adjustment in three positions, said “divan”, “relax” and “bed”, comprising padding elements supported by two frames; said frames can reciprocally move by means of two angle-bars, concurrent in a point; one of said angle-bars supports the frame forming the seat of the divan bed and the second one supports the frame forming the back of the divan bed; moreover comprising an articulated quadrilateral which supports said second angle-bar. The mechanism is characterised in that the angle-bars constitute a release mechanism which enables the three positions, stable respect to the divan bed base, while the quadrilater stiffly moves the angle-bars in other three positions.  
     Therefore, the main feature of the mechanism is the univocal positioning between the angle-bars and the quadrilateral elements, without any other additional element as, for example, stop elements like ratchet or pawl.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention regards a mechanism for divan beds enabling the adjustment of a divan bed in three positions, said “bed”, “divan” and “relax”.

[0002] In the state of the technique concerning the above mentioned applications, there are already some realizations of mechanisms enabling the adjustment in three positions of a divan bed. Such mechanisms, as the ones described in the European patents 0 380 156 and 0 807 390, are generally release mechanisms comprising two reciprocally moving angle-bars, a kinematism similar to an articulated quadrilateral, some elements forming a seat and a pawl to lock the divan bed in the positions “divan” and “relax”, and at least two toothed profiles that, engaging with each other, determine the reciprocal position of the angle-bars and, also, the position of the frames supporting the divan bed.

[0003] The known applications, however, are characterized by many constructive disadvantages. The described kinematism is very complicated by the high number of components and hinges; the toothed profiles do not work properly because they are tangentially stressed and not axially stressed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention is different from the ones on the market thanks to the fact that the same angle-bars (joining the frames of the divan bed) are the a release mechanism which enables the three positions, stable respect to the divan bed base, while the articulated quadrilateral stiffly moves the angle-bars in other three positions.

[0005] Main feature of the mechanism is the univocal positioning between the angle-bars and the quadrilateral elements, without any other additional element as, for example, stop elements, like ratchet or pawl.

[0006] An other aim of the invention is the remarkable reduction of the number of the hinges, number that does not exceed five, as it will be seen in the detailed description.

[0007] These and other advantages will be pointed out in the detailed description of the invention that will refer to the figures of the tables 1/3, 2/3 and 3/3 in which the preferred mechanism schemes in the three different positions are shown. All representations are examplifying and not restrictive.

WAY OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0008] With reference to the above mentioned tables:

[0009]FIG. 1 shows the mechanism in “bed” position;

[0010]FIG. 2 represents the “relax” position;

[0011] Finally, in FIG. 3 the “divan” position can be observed

[0012] With reference to these figures, the present mechanism enables the adjustment of two padded frames, forming the seat and the back of a divan bed. Due to their reciprocal position and to their position toward to the divan base, said frames can be placed in three configurations, called “divan”, “relax” and “bed”. Said frames are connected to the mechanism by means of the angle-bars 1, 2, which are hinged by the joint 5′. The reciprocal motion of the angle-bars is a rotation respect to the hinge axis. The reciprocal position of the two angle-bars is realized by a cyclic, not reversible release mechanism, which enables three stable positions. Said release mechanism comprises the angle-bar end 1, a cam 3 and an elastic means which retains the cam 3. The angle bar 1 (supporting the back frame) and the angle bar 2 (supporting the seat frame) are joined without interposition of additional elements so that the cam 3 lays on the same plane of the angle-bar toothed end 1″; this coplanarity is further assured by the fixing plate 7. Cam 3, has a contact surface, which alternatively gets in touch with the angle-bar toothed surface 1″, so univocally fixing the reciprocal position of the angle-bars and the related frames. To assure the divan bed optimal ergonomics, the two angle-bars can be placed in three stable positions in respect to the divan base. Said positions are realized by means of a quadrilater composed of angle-bar 1, front lever 5, fixing plate to the divan base 4 and back lever 6; such quadrilater is articulated in the knots 1′, 5′, 4′, 6′. Therefore, while the release mechanism three angle-bar reciprocal positions, the quadrilater stiffly moves the angle-bars in other three positions. The main feature of this mechanism is the relation between the angle-bars positioning and the quadrilateral positions. In other words, kinematically a univocal correspondence exists between the angle-bars' “divan” position and the quadrilateral's “divan” position, between the angle-bars' “relax” position and the quadrilateral's “relax” position and finally between the angle-bars' “bed” position and the quadrilateral's “bed” position. In fact, when the the angle-bars are in the “relax” position, the only stable configuration of the quadrilater is reached if the angle-bar stop element 2′ touches the back lever 6. The angle-bar 2 and the back lever 6 are shaped so that the contact between the lever 6 and the angle-bar surface 2′ can occur only if the two angle-bars are in the reciprocal position called “relax”. If the angle-bars are in the “divan” position, no contact can occur between the angle-bar stop element 2′ and the back lever 6; therefore, this configuration forces the quadrilateral to assume the only stable “divan” position when the front lever 5 touches the back lever 6. Finally, in the “bed” position, the angle-bars are alligned and the stable configuration is obtained by means of the contact between the frames and the divan base. In such configuration, at the same time, the quadrilateral assures the contact between the frames and the divan base and the frames alignement.

[0013] As it is evident, this mechanism is extremely simple, capable of performing, in an effective way, functions which up to now have been performed only by very complex mechanisms with a large number of components. In particular, the invention is quite different from the others, known as prior art, because it needs only five hinges. This is possibile thanks to the fact that the hinge 5′ (normally articulating the two angle-bars) has been also used as hinge between angle-bar and quadrilateral. Moreover, said hinge 5′ has been further lowered respect to the sleeping level: therefore a single padding can be used for the whole divan bed avoiding the padding's wear due to the mechanism. 

1) Innovative mechanism for a divan bed enabling the adjustment in three positions, said “divan”, “relax” and “bed”, comprising padding elements supported by two frames; said frames can reciprocally move by means of two angle-bars, concurrent in a point; one of said angle-bars supports the frame forming the seat of the divan bed and the second one supports the frame forming the back of the divan bed; moreover comprising an articulated quadrilateral which support said second angle-bar. The mechanism is characterised in that the angle-bars constitute a release mechanism which enables the three positions, stable respect to the divan bed base, while the quadrilater stiffly moves the angle-bars in other three positions; therefore, the main feature of the mechanism is the univocal positioning between the angle-bars and the quadrilateral elements, without any other additional element as, for example, stop elements like ratchet or pawl. 2) Mechanism according to the claim 1 characterized by the fact that said release mechanism comprises the angle-bar end 1″, a cam 3 and an elastic means which retains the cam
 3. 3) Mechanism according to the claim 2 characterized by the fact that said cam 3 has a contact surface, which alternatively gets in touch with the angle-bar toothed surface 1″, so univocally fixing the reciprocal position of the angle-bars. 4) Mechanism according to one of the claims 2 or 3 characterized by the fact that said angle-bars 1 and 2 are joined without interposition of additional elements so that the cam 3 lay in the same plane of the angle-bar toothed end 1″. 5) Mechanism according to the claim 4 characterized by the fact that the coplanarity between the cam 3 and the angle-bar 1 is further assured by the fixing plate
 7. 6) Mechanism according to one of the claims 1 or 2 characterized by the fact that said quadrilater is composed of angle-bar 1, front lever 5, fixing plate to the divan base 4 and back lever 6; such quadrilater is articulated in the knots 1′, 5′, 4′, 6′. 7) Mechanism according to one of the claims 1, 2 or 6 characterized by the fact that said “divan” position is univocally realised by a first possible angle-bars' reciprocal positioning and by the only stable quadrilateral's position, when the front lever 5 gets in touch with the back lever
 6. 8) Mechanism according to one of the claims 1, 2 or 6 characterized by the fact that said “relax” position is univocally realised by a second possible angle-bars' reciprocal positioning and by the only stable quadrilateral's position, when angle-bar surface 2′ gets in touch with the back lever
 6. 9) Mechanism according to one of the claims 1, 2 or 6 characterized by the fact that said “bed” position is univocally realised by a third possible angle-bars' reciprocal positioning and by the only stable quadrilateral's position, when, at the same time, the touch between the frames and the divan bed base and the frames alignement occur. 10) Mechanism according to one of the previous claims characterized by the fact that only five hinges are present. 11) Mechanism according to the claim 10 characterized by the fact that in the hinge 5′ the two angle-bars 1, 2 and the front lever are connected. 12) Mechanism according to the claim 11 characterized by the fact that said hinge 5′, further lowered respect to the sleeping level, allows the use of a single padding for the whole divan bed. 